Why did the serpent say, “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5)?

One of Satan’s craftiest strategies is to twist God’s Word into half-truths. During his first appearance in the Bible (in the Garden of Eden), the serpent, later identified as Satan (see Revelation 12:9; 20:2), used this approach on Eve when he said, “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5).

The cunning serpent slithered up to Eve and asked, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). Eve replied that God had forbidden her and Adam only from eating fruit from the “tree that is in the middle of the garden,” which was “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 3:2–3; cf. Genesis 2:16–17). God had warned them not to eat the fruit, “or you will die” (Genesis 3:3; cf. Genesis 2:17). Eve seemed to understand that God had put the prohibition in place for her and Adam’s protection—it was for their own good.

The serpent immediately set out to plant seeds of doubt in Eve’s mind. As the ultimate deceiver and liar (John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3), Satan’s goal was to get Eve to question God’s Word and His character. He wanted Eve to think, “If God does not mean what He says, His Word cannot be trusted.” So, the serpent launched his fiery dart directly at Eve’s faith, saying, “You will not certainly die. . . . For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4–5).

The serpent’s words are only partly true. “You will not certainly die” is a lie. God had said, “If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die” (see Genesis 2:17, NLT). Satan called into question the truth God had already revealed to Adam and Eve. He denied that God would punish their disobedience. Likewise, the serpent caused Eve to consider only the negative prohibition—God’s command to “do not eat.” He strategically diverted Eve’s mind from the goodness of God and His desire to protect her and all of humankind from sin, depravity, life in a fallen world, and the ultimate destiny of eternal death.

Nevertheless, part of the serpent’s statement was true. He said, “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil” (Genesis 3:5, NLT). A little later, in verse 22, God confirmed the truthfulness of Satan’s words: “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” (Genesis 3:22, NLT).

By saying, “You will be like God,” the serpent held out an enticing, intoxicating carrot: “Wouldn’t it be marvelous to be like God?” Satan himself had craved becoming “like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14). The serpent was questioning God’s motives, insinuating that God was somehow holding out on Adam and Eve, selfishly suppressing them by keeping them away from the tree. He wanted Eve to become suspicious of God and think, “Rather than being for us, God must certainly be conspiring against us because He does not want anyone to rival His position of privilege.” Satan failed to disclose to Eve the high price—the fall of humanity into sin and separation from God—that she and all people would pay for being “like God,” knowing both good and evil.

Why did the serpent say, “You will be like God?” He said it to discredit God’s motives, undermine His character, and cast suspicion on His Word. Satan caused Eve to doubt the goodness of God. When we question God’s goodness, we begin to doubt His love for us and distrust His Word to us. Satan then has us right where he wants us.

Satan’s deceptions are skillfully subtle. We must be on guard against the serpent’s schemes. He still tempts us today with the allure of sin and the temptation to disobey God’s commands. We must remember that God is infinitely good (Psalm 34:8; Nahum 1:7). He is always for us (Jeremiah 32:40; Romans 8:28–31; Philippians 1:6). “All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy” (Psalm 111:7, NLT). When God says, “No, do not eat from the tree,” we can trust and obey Him. He is looking out for our good.